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Worldwide sales of digital-TV set-top boxes climbed 12% in 2007, to 102.4 million units, according to a new study from Strategy Analytics. The report goes on to say that the upcoming transition to all-digital TV signals in the U.S. fueled the trend and will continue to do so. Strategy Analytics estimated that 200 million DTV set-top boxes will be sold globally by 2012.

The FCC's new rules regarding DTV-transition information on consumer-electronics products goes into effect today. The order compels manufacturers to include the information on items such as cable set-top boxes, TVs and DVRs.

Chip maker Microtune has warned a federal agency overseeing the digital conversion that it has found "tuner-related performance failures" in some of the DTV-converter boxes being offered to people through the government's $40 coupon program. In a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration last week, Microtune said that set-tops might not meet the agency's performance standards and may malfunction.

More than six in 10 analog viewers surveyed by the Association of Public Television Stations said they preferred to transition to DTV by purchasing a converter box or digital-TV set, rather than adding pay-TV services. The survey also found that consumer awareness about the upcoming DTV transition had increased from 51% in November to 76.4% in February.

Worldwide sales of digital-TV set-top boxes climbed 12% in 2007, to 102.4 million units, according to a new study from Strategy Analytics. The report goes on to say that the upcoming transition to all-digital TV signals in the U.S. fueled the trend and will continue to do so. Strategy Analytics estimated that 200 million DTV set-top boxes will be sold globally by 2012.